The Startup Pinay Meetup last September 30 began with a quirky exercise— we were asked to use our imagination. “Imagine a world where only 1 out of every 333 people could read but not write. It would be a world that limits progress, creativity, and innovation,” Crystal Camarao, the meetup’s featured speaker and Founder of No-Code Philippines, begins. The virtual room remained silent, but it was clear that everyone agreed with her statement. Now, here’s the kicker. As it turns out, the statistic of 1 out of every 333 applies to those who know how to code worldwide. That means only 0.3% of the global population can write code. Shocked? The virtual room was taken aback as well.
How is it possible that in the digital age, where everyone relies on software that is built on code, less than 1% know how to write it? This is because learning to code has traditionally been immensely expensive, with learning fees and high-tech equipment merely prerequisites to the process. Camarao identifies that this problem has been a roadblock for many entrepreneurs, particularly those in the Philippine Startup Ecosystem.
Enter, No-Code. In essence, No-Code means that you can build your product and automate it without having to write a single line of code. This is done through tools that make use of visual methods to design your product and automatically generate the code for you. With No-Code, any person can simply drag and drop to create their product!
No-Code is especially beneficial to startups. It brings about the decommodification of coding and allows for greater flexibility. As such, startups can choose to create their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) through No-Code. “It doesn’t have to be perfect! It can be the most basic version of your product,” Camarao explains. The point of creating your MVP through No-Code is to be able to get feedback quickly, without having to invest too much time and money from the get-go. Since users will be able to give feedback instantaneously, startups can immediately troubleshoot to refine their product further. No-Code is a game changer— it has the capacity to validate a product and establish its product/market fit once it's created.
If you’re curious about exploring No-Code, here’s Camarao’s 5 Best Tips:
Learn the basics! This is even more important when it comes to UX design, as the quality of a product heavily hinges upon its user experience.
Know the No-Code tools that are available to you.
Find Resources. There are many guides and how-to’s online that can aid you through the step-by-step process of using particular No-Code tools.
Learn by doing and creating your first project. “Get past the learning curve by working on a project you’re interested in,” advises Camarao.
Join a community like No-Code PH!
Join the Startup Pinay Community by clicking here. By joining the community, you’ll get access to exclusive events, mentorship programs, and much more! Take part in our mission to shift the gender norms, especially on the role of women, in the Philippine Startup Ecosystem.
Crystal Camarao will be giving a talk titled, No Code, No Problem: A Primer on No-code and Low Code by No-Code Philippines, during Philippine Startup Week 2021. The event will take place online on Monday, November 15, 2021 from 3 - 4:30 PM. Register for Philippine Startup Week 2021 now and get your free tickets here.
